Tarawa*
*
Date: November 20, 1943*
*
Battle Location: Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll*
*
Battle Type: US Marines Assault vs Japanese Defend*
*
Description: This large scenario represents the landing of the 2nd Marine Division/V Amphibious Corps on Betio from November 20 to November 23, 1943 and should be played only from the US Marines side (Japanese side is not tested). No doubt, that the Marines can conquer Betio (as in real), but the question is how high the price will be. Expect heavy looses.*  
*
Historical note: On November 20, the marines established only a bridgehead west (Red 2) and south (Red 1) of the pier (aprox. 400 m in every direction).. On Red 3 the landing occured only on the northern tip.*
*
Gameplay Notes/Tips: The first three waves of Marines will approach in Amtracs of the 2nd Amphibian Tractor Battalion at the beginning of turn 8. The following waves of Marines will start at the submerged reef (turn 14+) and wade ashore to simulate the grounded Higgins boats. The following waves can land normally with their landing crafts, because of high tide and the discovery of gaps in the reef. If you want to play historically correct, move the Amtracs and landing crafts with full speed until they reach the beach (shallow water hex or pier hex) and unload only there. Stay in the marked landing sectors, but you can chose any beach hexes inside the sectors to land your units. Dont't enter the two hexes of the Niminoa wreck. If landed, move the main amount of the LVT's back to the reef line to pick up embarked (reinforcement) troops. Pound the island hard with all you have in the pre-invasion bombardment phase (you have a lot of time: From turn 1 until beaching, approx. turn 15 for the first wave), concentrate your fire on the landing beaches (dont spray the hole island) and lay a dense smokescreen at arrival (tip: begin the planing in turn 6)! But smoke ammo is limited. Otherwise the defenders can easily defeat you. Try to keep the pier intact. If you wish to make the same errors like in real, you can stop the main bombardment after turn 12 until the third wave has landed (then only DD Ringgold and DD Dashiell are available in this period, they are the only bombardment ships inside of the lagoon). Secure your rear area if you move your way inland, the japanese defenders are very tricky. Some known special "events" in the battle are implemented, watch out. It may be helpful to have a map of Betio (simulate air reccon, a very good link found in the sources below), if you are not common with the place to direct the bombardment efficient. You MUST take the "Green North" landing area with your 3/2 Marines at ALL COSTS, because in turn 40 the 1/6 Marines will land in this area with slow, unarmed and unarmoured rubber boats!*
*
Designer Notes: The gametime is time compressed due to the winSPWW2 game length limitations of 89 (90) rounds. The arrival time of the reinforcements is recalculated. The troops strength (Marines and Japanese) is reduced due to formation limitations of winSPWW2 (but all the heavy guns and antitank guns on Betio exist and are in place). Max. water speed from Higgins and Amtracs was changed to x:4 due to a appox. correct timeline of landing waves. The Marines squads and the M4A2 can move in deep water with a speed of 2. The landing vehicles at Green Beach are not correct (500 units limit reached, only icons, speed and armour from LCVP's units changed). The japanese side have also reinforcements to simulate sheltered troops and the relocation of troops in the battle, this means you are not able to destroy all the enemy with your bombardment or recon every unit with you spotter planes. Changed a lot of the original units to design armour, speed, ammo... The M5A1 can tow 37mm AT guns and 75mm Pack Howitzers. Command chain represents only platoon, company (battailon) and Battle Group HQ (division). Regiment commanders are not in place (winSPWW2 limitation).*
*
Version: Scenario Version 0.97, WinSPWW2 Version 3.5, Scenario No 390! If you have any good ideas/found errors to make the scenario better, please place and discuss it in the forum or send an email.*
*
Sources:* 
Wright, Derrick, Tarawa 1943, the turning of the tide, Osprey*
Rottman, Gordon L., US Word WAR II, Amphibious Tactics, Osprey*
Rottman, Gordon L., Japanese Pacific Island Defence 1941-45, Osprey*
Zaloga, Steven, Amtracs: US Amphibious assault vehicles, Osprey*
Tarawa and operation Galvanic, After the Battle No 15, Battle of Britain International Ltd.*
Shaw, Henry I. Jr., Tarawa, a legend is born. Purell, Battle book No 8*
www.tarawaontheweb.org (very good maps)*
www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/extcontent/usmc/pcn-190-003120-00/sec1.htm (very good history)*
www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Tarawa*
http://webpages.charter.net/o/ocotillo/pages/LVT%20Report%20of%20Losses.htm*
*
Design by: Christian Basener, Germany*
Email: christian.basener@gmx.de*